The simplest branched surfaces for a foliation (Q2373545)

Let \(M\) be a 3-manifold (closed), \(F\) a foliation of \(N\), and \(\Phi\) a Smale flow transverse to \(F\). The results of this text are devoted to the simplest branched surfaces for a foliation. Contents: branched surfaces constructed from foliations, modifications of a branched surface \(W\) carrying \((F,\Phi)\) with generating set \(\Delta\), standard minimal branched surfaces carrying \((F,\Phi)\) for which some generating set is standard minimal. For any foliation \(F\) and any flow \(\Phi\) that meets a certain condition, there is a natural choice for a branched surface associated with \((F,\Phi)\). The author shows that all branched surfaces constructed from \(F\) and \(\Phi\), \(W_{F,\Phi}\), can be obtained from the simplest model by applying a finite sequence of combinatorial moves chosen so that each intermediate branched surface also carries \(F\). The main result of this paper is the following Theorem: ``Let \(F\) be a foliation and \(\Phi\) a nonsingular Smale flow transverse to \(F\). Any branched surface \(W\in\Omega_{F, \Phi}\) can be modified to obtain any other standard branched surface \(V\) carrying \((F,\Phi)\) by \(F\)-splittings and pinchings, followed by finitely many \(F\)-cuttings. In particular, if \(V\in\Omega_{F,\Phi}\), then any generating set for \((F,\Phi)\) that generates \(W\) can be modified by \(F\)-extensions, contractions and bumpings to get any generating set for \((F,\Phi)\) that generates \(V\).'' \(\Omega_{F,\Phi}\) is the set of all branched surfaces that are standard minimal for \((F,\Phi)\). For the proof, one uses an equivalence relation on the set of branched surfaces transverse to \(\Phi\).